Category Archives: Eurofins Laboratories

Bad Bug New Release

Posted on April 6, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FDA

This book is a great source of Microbiology Information and can be downloaded as a 264 page PDF.

The second edition of the Bad Bug Book3, published by the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides current information about the major known agents that cause foodborne illness. The information provided in this handbook is abbreviated and general in nature, and is intended for practical use. It is not intended to be a comprehensive scientific or clinical reference. Each chapter in this book is about a pathogen – a bacterium, virus, or parasite – or a natural toxin that can contaminate food and cause illness. The book contains scientific and technical information about the major pathogens that cause these kinds of illnesses. A separate “consumer box” in each chapter provides non-technical information, in everyday language. The boxes describe plainly what can make you sick and, more important, how to prevent it.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, Cryptosporidium, E.coli, E.coli O104, E.coli O157, E.coli O26, EHEC, Enterobacteriaceae, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Legionella, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, MRSA, Pathogen, Research, Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, STEC

Canada – Recall – Salmonella – Tahina

Posted on April 6, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the Ayyam Zaman brand Extra Fine Tahina described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected product, Ayyam Zaman brand Extra Fine Tahina, is sold in 400 g packages bearing UPC 6 217000 429807 and a code starting with “EXP 10/08”.

This product is known to have been distributed in Ontario and may have been distributed in other provinces as well.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

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Posted in Bacteria, CIFA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

Canada -Recall Hepatitis A Virus

Posted on April 6, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CIFA 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Overwaitea Food Group are warning the public not to consume the Western Family brand Pomeberry Blend berries described below. The affected product may contain Hepatitis A virus.

The affected product Western Family brand Pomeberry Blend berries is sold frozen in 600g packages bearing UPC 0 62639 31347 0. All lot codes are affected.

This product is known to have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario and may also have been distributed to other provinces.

This recall is a result of an ongoing food safety investigation with BCCDC and regional health authorities into a number of cases of hepatitis A in British Columbia.

Food contaminated with Hepatitis A virus may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this virus may cause hepatitis and produce a self-limited disease that does not result in chronic infection or chronic liver disease. The illness is usually mild and starts about 15 to 50 days after the contaminated food is eaten. It generally goes away by itself in a week or two, although it can last up to 6 months in some people. It can cause inflammation of the liver, and symptoms may include fever, low appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, and yellowing in the whites of the eyes and the skin (jaundice).

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Posted in CIFA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Microbiology, Pathogen

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Aussie – Kids – Egg Safety Campaign – Iphone/Ipad App

Posted on April 5, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food NSW       Egg Game App Link 

Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson today officially launched a new egg food safety app developed by the NSW Government which will heighten awareness around the safest eggs to eat.

While touring the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Ms Hodgkinson stopped into the NSW Food Authority’s Big Egg Show stand in the Woolworths Fresh Food Dome to launch and play the “Good Glen and the Bad Eggs” app.

“Most shell eggs in Australia are clean and free from bacteria but sometimes harmful bugs can be found on the egg if it’s dirty or get inside if it’s cracked. Keeping eggs in the fridge also minimises the risk of bacteria like Salmonella growing.

NSW Egg Safety Link

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

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Not Food but HPA Update on Petting Farm Hand Washing

Posted on April 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

HPA 

Ahead of the petting farm season, the HPA is reminding people, especially those with responsibility for young children, to enjoy their farm visits safely by ensuring good hand hygiene after touching farm animals or their surroundings.

Outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness associated with contact with farm animals peak in the spring and summer as this coincides with schools holidays when visits to petting farms tend to be more popular, although outbreaks can occur at other times.

The route of transmission in these illnesses, which include the infections E. coli O157 and Cryptosporidium, is direct contact with animals in petting and feeding areas as well as contact with the droppings of animals on contaminated surfaces around farms.

HPA Hand Wash Poster

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Posted in Bacteria, Cryptosporidium, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, STEC

US – Salmonella Bareilly Outbreak – Spicy Tuna Sushi

Posted on April 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

MarlerClark

Sushi is the likely source of a Salmonella outbreak, with spicy tuna roll sushi closely associated with Salmonella illnesses.

A Salmonella serotype Bareilly outbreak has caused at least 90 cases of Salmonella in residents of 19 states and the District of Columbia.  At least 7 people have been hospitalised.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Salmonella

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Australia – Northern Territories – Increase in Cryptosporidium

Posted on April 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

AFN 

A notable rise in the number of cases of the stomach bug Cryptosporidium in the Northern Territory has prompted the Government of the Northern Territory to urge Territorians to practice good hygiene and food safety practices.

“Cryptosporidiosis, or “crypto”, is a disease caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. It can be spread by ingesting food or water that has been contaminated by people infected by the parasite.

According to the Northern Territory Government, 114 cases have been reported so far this year.

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Posted in Cryptosporidium, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Parasite, Pathogen, Water

US – Another Raw Milk Recall – Salmonella

Posted on April 3, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Pennsylvania Fox News 

The state departments of Agriculture and Health Monday advised consumers and retailers who purchased raw milk and raw milk cheese from Norman Z. and Edith B. Sauder in Kutztown, Berks County, to discard or return the products immediately. Raw milk and raw milk cheese are products that have not been pasteurized.  

On April 1, an independent lab confirmed the products tested positive for Salmonella. It was found in raw milk sold in a plastic bottle and raw milk cheese with a date code of March 25, 2012

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Recall, Salmonella

NZ – Legionnaires Outbreak in Auckland

Posted on April 3, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Stuff.CO.NZ 

About 300 Auckland buildings may be affected by a major outbreak of the potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease. The outbreak has prompted urgent calls for building owners, mostly within the CBD, to overhaul mechanical ventilation systems that include cooling towers. In the last six weeks, nine cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been recorded in the region. A typical six-week period would see one or two cases notified.

The disease is a form of pneumonia that can be life-threatening for some. The condition of the nine people with the disease is not known

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Legionella, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

UK – Vets – E.coli Superbug – Caution

Posted on April 3, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Meat Info UK 

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has questioned the Soil Association’s (SA) assertion that there is “overwhelming evidence” that the use of antibiotics in UK livestock farms is contributing to an “epidemic” of E.coli infections in humans.

It said that leading scientitic opinion suggests there is no evidence to draw this conclusion and that the claims risked a “kneejerk reaction” of blanket restrictions on the use of these medicines by veterinary surgeons.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen

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